Down in the Florida Everglades, state-level lawmakers and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) decided to build a new detention center for Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) housing of apprehended illegal immigrants awaiting processing and deportation.
Utilizing Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) funds, the facility is expected to hold up to 1,000 people, and is touted as only the latest example of Florida’s dedication, under Gov. Ron DeSantis, to President Donald Trump’s policies to crack down on illegal immigration.
Meanwhile, the project has faced opposition from environmental groups over how the construction of the facility will ultimately affect the surrounding ecosystem, as well as resistance from local authorities. Emergency powers were triggered at the state level to override the local authorities and expedite the project, and state officials said that it would have a minimal effect on the surrounding environment....
